T
Aikikai style is based off of what O-Sensei was doing later in life. He was an old man, not as strong or as fast as he once was, had a legendary status, and was approaching senility. His method of instruction was often to demonstrate something once and then let the students work it out for themselves. People who learned in this environment and failed to work on practical application or take the time to examine the roots of the techniques, had weak, often ineffective techniques, they got black belts and went on to produce more schools and more black belts that where the same as they where.

They are the predominate example of Aikido. They are going to be worried about the proper way to fold a Hakama, whether or not a school has Hombu recognition, or the proper way to do kamiza ni rei. The concept of getting out there and actually doing the technique against someone outside of their school is against the principles of "Aiki" and other excuses. The trappings of Aikido and the philosophy of Aikido are more important than the core of Aikido.
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This is very reminiscent of the Aikido BB I played with... I won't say spar because spar implies (to me) exerting some effort and I didn't. He was completely unprepared for what happens when somebody doesn't just throw a lunging punch and I ended up beating him with... a standing choke. He didn't know how to escape it.

I mean it was more embarrasing than the san da match that I won with a spinning backfist. God damn! Give me a person who can beat me before my skills atrophy!

Aikiweb, Aikido Journal, E-budo are all inhabited by the viscious Aikibunny. More concerned with style over substance and very little, if any concept, of what a real fight entails.

The problem isn't Aikido, the problem is the tree huggers who embraced the spiritual aspects without realizing that O-Sensei could do the whole peaceful/spiritual/inner light thing because he had the street skills to throwdown when necessary.

What is this, the great fat synchronicity thread!?**** that! Where the **** IS Shanxi anyway!? :thebirdma

Come to Tokyo, we'll play that hand of mahjong!

Mat.

LOL! Mat everyone knows that the folks in Japan make the big money! It'd cost me a month's salary to get a plane ticket over there. Shanxi is easy to find... Just a day away from Beijing! Or you could throw together a Japan throwdown and try to pressure me into showing up there. ;)